Meet Shoestring Warrior and Engineer Scott

If you think you’re a spontaneous adventurer, we might have found your rival. Meet Shoestring Warrior and engineer, Scott Thawley. He’s been known to jump in a car and head out on a 10 day trip up north. While not every spontaneous adventure is that long, he usually spends his weekends outside with little to no plans of where he’s headed.

I usually leave for a trip headed in a general area and see where it goes.

His adventures usually lead to pretty views and fun times but there is that one trip that included a group of friends, a grizzly bear, and an impromptu summer camp sing-along. Keep reading to learn more about Scott and to find out how the sing-along ended!

Name:

Scott Thawley

Hometown:

Maple Shade, NJ

Current Location:

Santa Ana, CA

Profession:

Engineer

What are your passions outside of work?

Hiking, camping, and backpacking.

Tell us about yourself!

I’m an engineer and am very focused on work during the week and hanging out in the wilderness on the weekends. I usually leave for a trip headed in a general area and see where it goes.

How would you describe your level of camping experience?

I usually only go out for 2-3 days, but camp everywhere and anywhere. It’s an equal share of campsites, car camping in Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land, and wilderness camping.

When did you first discover your love for the outdoors?

I’ve been camping and hiking my whole life. Most family vacations were tent or trailer camping all over the east coast.

Funniest outdoor experience/mishap?

In Denali park, a grizzly bear surprised us out in the open. We were at the edge of a large, dried up riverbed. Near the edge, we took off our jackets and put them, preparing for the steep climb ahead. While my head was still in my bag I heard my friend curse in surprise. When I looked up there was a big grizzly bear about 200 yards away (recommendation is to stay at least 500yards away). It was scenting the air and looking at us. So we got together and started talking loudly about our plans about how to leave. It went back to digging up shrubs so we started to walk back the way we came while I sung summer camp songs. When it stopped, we stopped. It would look around and smell the air a bit and then go back to digging. It took us four or five iterations of walking and stopping to get far enough away where it wasn’t interested anymore. It was super scary in the moment, but looking back on it,

I serenaded a grizzly bear with summer camp songs for about 15 minutes.

Hopefully no locals saw me. None of the rangers or locals were impressed, making us feel kind of lame for not going back the next day.

What’s the most spontaneous trip you’ve ever taken and how did it turn out?

One summer, wildfires cancelled a week long camping and backpacking trip in Yosemite.

The group as a whole couldn’t decide what to do, so my friend and I jumped in the car and drove to Lost Coast without any plans.

We figured out permits and trails on the 12 hour trip there and ended up backpacking for three days on the south end. After that we drove back south calling Yosemite to see when it would open. That night we crashed at an old co-worker of mine’s house and in the morning found out Yosemite was open. So we got a site at Housekeeping camp and hiked Half Dome the first day it reopened. It was great! There were only 15-30 people on the cables/top and it was a excellent weather. You could see all the way out to the John Muir trail. After that we met up with some friends who had a condo at Huntington Lake and finished out our 10 day adventure with no plans.

What Shoestring Adventures have you been on and what’s your favorite memory?

I’ve been on a couple of adventures and have been up to Kings Canyon with Alyx, Shoestring Adventures Founder. My favorite memory is an unofficial trip. When Alyx just started doing trips, she asked me to lead one I had been talking about at her weekly hikes. The way up was interesting…We found a spot the first night once I went around the “campsite full” sign. The next day we went up to a dirt road to a wilderness site that I had been to before. It’s on the Little Sur river on the north end of Big Sur. It was Ari’s first time with his backpacking gear and Shevaugh was still new to camping.

A lot of us in the group were going to weekday hikes, but after that trip we were all really close.

Photo by Alyx Schwarz

What food do you always bring on a backpacking trip and why?

Mini bell peppers and Persian cucumbers. It’s super satisfying to have fresh veggies camping and backpacking. Also, they are good rehydration after hiking/backpacking in the desert or at altitude.

If you were to choose one highlight from your adventures in 2017, what would it be?

In March I went to Zion for a long weekend. We camped on the east rim trail for two nights. That side of the canyon has a bunch of pine trees and is away from the tourists. On the way to the camping area we saw a canyon off the beaten path and spent sometime off trail walking back towards the east side road. We made it to the top of the rim you can see from the east gate road over a lot of the canyon popular with the rock climbers and canyoneering groups. Saturday we walked to Observation point and Sunday we drove home.

Where’s your next adventure?

My next adventure is backpacking to Panamint from Ballarat. Its an overnight backpack near Death Valley up to an old mining town. There are some cabins kept up by backpackers and some mine shafts to explore.

Event Photos

Time

march 16 (Friday) - 18 (Sunday)

Location

Joshua Tree National Park

Event Details

Curious about backpacking but feeling overwhelmed or intimidated? Join us for a backpacking adventure in Joshua Tree National Park!
This 2-night experience is designed to help beginners gain confidence in essential

Event Details

Curious about backpacking but feeling overwhelmed or intimidated? Join us for a backpacking adventure in Joshua Tree National Park!

This 2-night experience is designed to help beginners gain confidence in essential backcountry skills. Learn how to pack your bag, read a map, prepare a delicious meal outdoors, minimize your impact, and more!

We will get up-close-and-personal with the desert landscape as we head into the backcountry on the Boy Scout Trail, navigating the sandy washes and rock formations to our first wilderness campsite. We will continue our journey through the Wonderland of Rocks to Willow Hole, an oasis shaded by desert willows and frequented by bighorn sheep. Along the way, we will keep our eyes peeled for desert wildflower blooms, which are common in the Wonderland area. Finally, we will retrace our steps along the Boy Scout Trail for our final descent to Indian Cove and celebrate with a victory lunch at a local restaurant.

Highlights For This Adventure

Explore the wide open backcountry, mini-slot canyon and rock formations of Joshua Tree National Park away from the crowds

Go on a scavenger hunt to view early blooms during peak desert wildflower season

Stargaze far away from city lights and fall asleep to the sound of coyotes howling

Find out if scorpions really glow in the dark

Learn essential backcountry skills in a judgement-free environment

Included With Every Shoestring Adventure

Experienced Wilderness First Responder/CPR Certified trip leaders

A supportive community of Shoestring Warriors

Gourmet backcountry meals

Triptographer will join to capture the memories

Edited photos 3 weeks after your trip ends

Shoestring Warrior Adventure Kit with curated souvenirs

Permits and reservations

Shoestring Adventures operates with special use permits. A portion of your ticket goes toward protecting and preserving this park for future generations.

Your Journey

Day 1: Meet at the Boy Scout trailhead in Indian Cove at 8:00am, where we will begin and end our journey. After orientation, we will caravan to another Boy Scout trail entrance for a flat 2.4-mi out-and-back hike to cache (or store) our water for Day 2. Then we will caravan back to Indian Cove. We will navigate through a sandy wash and climb out of the canyon to the Big Pine Trail intersection (4.25-mi), where we will find a place to set up camp. Finally, we will prepare and enjoy a hearty backcountry dinner. Total: 6.65-miles

Day 2: After coffee and breakfast, we’ll break down camp and continue our journey for 2.6-mi along Boy Scout Trail to the intersection of Willow Hole Trail, where we will drop our packs and find a place to set up camp. After lunch, we will continue our journey through the Wonderland of Rocks to Willow Hole, an oasis shaded by desert willows and frequented by bighorn sheep (approx. 4.6-mi round trip). Before returning to camp, we must make an important detour to retrieve our cache of drinking water. Return to camp to watch the sunrise and enjoy a well-deserved backcountry feast! Total: Total: 7.2-miles

Day 3: On our final day in Joshua Tree, we recommend waking up early to catch the desert sunrise. After coffee and breakfast, we will break down camp and retrace our steps along the Boy Scout Trail, completing our journey at Indian Cover around noon (approx. 7-mi). We will caravan back to our cars at Maze Loop Trailhead and meet up for a victory lunch at a local restaurant before returning home. Total: 7-miles

Schedule subject to change due to weather, camper ability/injury, natural events or park restrictions. Shoestring Warriors should be in good physical shape, but we will hike at an easy pace and take breaks as needed.

Your Guides

Photo by Ryan Tuttle

Trip Leader Graham has a Masters in Recreation Management at California State University-Northridge and a bachelor’s degree in Nutrition, Health, and Exercise from the University of Nebraska. He has a collective of 5 years working for Outward Bound and various other collegiate outdoor recreation programs. He is a certified Wilderness First Responder, as well as an avid climber, surfer, backpacker and backcountry skier. He is absolutely stoked to be living on the West coast where he can share his outdoor passions with others. LEARN MORE

If catching a sunrise, summiting peaks, crushing tacos, or throwing up shakas is involved, Triptographer Clare is probably close by. She majored in social media and her parents still ask if that was legitimate. She is a born and bred Californian, but she accidentally moved to Chattanooga, TN once and fell in love with the south. Hands down, the best feeling in the world is crushing a strenuous trail then crushing a beer. Lastly, her #1 goal in life is to keep the stoke alive. Shall we? LEARN MORE

Trip Level

While previous backpacking experience is not required, Shoestring Warriors must be physically fit and prepared to hike up to 7-miles with approximately 35 pounds on your back. Check out our upcoming schedule of community hikes to train with us!

First Time Shoestring Warrior?

After registration, you will receive a Welcome Kit with a customized package list, introductions to your fellow campers, weather forecast and everything else you need to know to prepare for our trip.

Transportation is not included. While you are responsible for getting to and from Shoestring Adventures locations, we will help coordinate carpools for Shoestring Warriors leaving from Los Angeles. Passengers are expected to contribute to their driver for gas and wear & tear.

Traveling from out of town? The closest airports are Palm Springs International—45 minutes from park headquarters—and Ontario International, about an hour and a half from the park. Los Angeles International, Burbank, and Long Beach Airports are all about two to three hours away.

Plan to fly in Thursday night. You can find a place to stay on Airbnb. We will meet bright and early on Friday morning, around 8am. We will return to civilization around noon on Sunday. If you would like to join us for victory lunch at a local restaurant, plan to depart from Joshua Tree to your airport destination around 2pm.

Weather

Average high in February is 64 degrees Fahrenheit. Late February and March is also when desert wildflowers begin to bloom.

Health & Safety

We take extra measures to ensure your safety and maximum level of fun. All Shoestring Adventures trip leaders hold Wilderness First Responder/CPR, Leave No Trace and Food Handling certifications. In remote destinations, we carry a DeLorme inReach Explorer Satellite Messenger to contact authorities in case of emergency.

On the trail, we encourage campers to stay together, wear sun protection and stay hydrated. We minimize risk by keeping groups together while hiking, encouraging everyone to drink water and apply sunscreen, and making sure we’re prepared with gear appropriate to weather and our activities.

Event Photos

Time

Location

Event Details

Join us for an overnight backpacking adventure on Santa Cruz Island, the largest of five islands in Channel Island National Park.
Santa Cruz Island offers 77-miles of

Event Details

Join us for an overnight backpacking adventure on Santa Cruz Island, the largest of five islands in Channel Island National Park.

Santa Cruz Island offers 77-miles of rugged ocean cliffs, secluded sandy beaches, giant sea caves and colorful tidepools. The island is home to many distinctive plant and animal species that have adapted to the unique environment, including the Santa Cruz Island Fox, a local you will likely meet during your visit.

From Ventura Harbor, a ferry will bring us to Scorpion Anchorage. While the campground is only a short .5-mile hike from the ferry, the island has very few amenities, allowing us to slip into the backcountry and hone our skills without too much effort. Learn from our experienced guides how to pack your bag, cook in the backcountry andLeave No Trace. We’ll enjoy hikes across the island, offering panoramic coastal views and wildflower sightings and relaxing beach time. For a sneak peak, check out our previous adventure to Santa Cruz Island!

Highlights For This Adventure

Access the backcountry with just a short .5-mile hike from the ferry to the campground

Observe the Santa Cruz Island Fox and other wildlife in their natural habitat

Included With Every Shoestring Adventure

Experienced Wilderness First Responder/CPR Certified trip leaders

A supportive community of Shoestring Warriors

Gourmet backcountry meals

Triptographer will join to capture the memories

Edited photos 3 weeks after your trip ends

Shoestring Warrior Adventure Kit with curated souvenirs

Permits and reservations

Shoestring Adventures operates with special use permits. A portion of your ticket goes toward protecting and preserving this park for future generations.

Your Journey

Day 1: Meet at Ventura Harbor for a 1-hour ferry ride to Scorpion Anchorage on Santa Cruz Island. After camp set-up and orientation, we’ll head out on a 5-mile loop day hike to Cavern Point and Potato Harbor, featuring magnificent coastal views and seasonal whale watching.

Day 2: Pack up camp before a 7-mile round-trip hike to Smuggler’s Cove. Enjoy a picnic lunch on the secluded beach before heading back to Scorpion Anchorage to catch our ferry back to Ventura Harbor.

Total: Approx. 12 miles

Schedule subject to change due to weather, camper ability/injury, natural events or park restrictions. Shoestring Warriors should be in good physical shape, but we will hike at an easy pace and take breaks as needed.

Schedule subject to change due to weather, camper ability/injury, natural events or park restrictions. Shoestring Warriors should be in good physical shape, but we will hike at an easy pace and take breaks as needed.

Your Guides

Trip Leader Heather currently works as an Internship Coordinator at a university and is aspiring to work full time as a Life Coach, offering healing and rejuvenating outdoor activities to others. Heather has found that being in the outdoors provides people with an opportunity to slip away from the sounds of the city, exercise, release tension, gain clarity, find peace, and discover something new about yourself, among so many other things! One of her most meaningful trips was backpacking the John Muir Trail solo. She is so thankful to be a part of the Shoestring Adventures family and looks forward to getting to know you! LEARN MORE

Triptographer Stepfanie is an outdoor enthusiast, photographer, writer, and a lifelong learner. You can find her trying out a new craft or testing out how she can integrate things she enjoys. She loves connecting with adventurous and creative souls!

Trip Level

While previous backpacking experience is not required, Shoestring Warriors must be physically fit and prepared to hike up to 7-miles. Check out our upcoming schedule of community hikes to train with us!

First Time Shoestring Warrior?

After registration, you will receive a Welcome Kit with a customized package list, introductions to your fellow campers, weather forecast and everything else you need to know to prepare for our trip.

Transportation to Ventura Harbor is not included. While you are responsible for getting to and from Shoestring Adventures locations, we will help coordinate carpools for Shoestring Warriors leaving from Los Angeles. Passengers are expected to contribute to their driver for gas and wear & tear.

Traveling from out of town? The closest airport is Santa Barbara Airport—45 minutes from the Ventura Harbor. Los Angeles International and Hollywood Burbank Airports are about one and a half hours away.

If you plan to fly in Friday night, you can find a place to stay on Airbnb. We will meet bright and early on Saturday morning, around 7:30am. We will return to civilization around 5pm on Sunday, so plan your flight accordingly.

Weather

In general, the islands have a Mediterranean climate year-round. Temperatures are relatively stable, with highs averaging in the mid-60s (°F) and lows in the low-50s. Fog is common during the late spring. Click here for current weather forecast.

Health & Safety

We take extra measures to ensure your safety and maximum level of fun. All Shoestring Adventures trip leaders hold Wilderness First Responder/CPR, Leave No Trace and Food Handling certifications. In remote destinations, we carry a DeLorme inReach Explorer Satellite Messenger to contact authorities in case of emergency.

On the trail, we encourage campers to stay together, wear sun protection and stay hydrated. We minimize risk by keeping groups together while hiking, encouraging everyone to drink water and apply sunscreen, and making sure we’re prepared with gear appropriate to weather and our activities.

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About

Shoestring Adventures offers guided weekend camping & backpacking adventures and a supportive community for anyone who wants to experience the outdoors.

Founder Alyx Schwarz started Shoestring Adventures in 2011 following back surgery. A former triathlete and marathon runner, she rediscovered her love of the outdoors through hiking. Since then, she has devoted weekends to exploring her home state of California and invites you to come along!